Members of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators who live in New England can use this blog to find open critique groups. For more information about NESCBWI visit nescbwi.org If you are not an SCBWI member visit scbwi.org to join.

Pages

New England SCBWI Critique Groups

NESCBWI Critique Groups are held, usually on a monthly basis, in communities throughout all the New England states. Each group is unique, shaped by the talents of the Critique Group Leader and the participants.

On this site you will see a list of the currently open critique groups in each state. If you have any questions, contact your local coordinator at necritiquegroups@gmail.com.

Don't see a group in your area? Fill out our critique group request form and we will contact you if a group becomes available. If you would be interested in starting a group, send a request to necritiquegroups@gmail.com. You can also check back since this site is updated regularly.

Thanks!

Rajani LaRocca, Central New England (MA)

Sally Wilkins, Northern New England (NH, ME, VT)

Cindy Rodriguez, Southern New England (CT, RI)

Massachusetts

MA – Amherst/North Hampton

Ongoing group that originally met at the Hatfield Library and Jones Library. They are now meeting at the Forbes Library in North Hampton on the 3rdWednesday of the month from 6-8pm. Open to all writers and illustrators at every level of experience. Contact amelia.mosley@gmail.com.

MA - Andover

The group meets the second or third Wednesday of the month from 7-9 PM at The Memorial Hall Library Activity Room in Andover. Find out more about some of our members at our group blog, Writer’s Rumpus (http://writerumpus.com). Please contact Marianne Knowles to confirm meeting date and time, and to receive group guidelines. Contact mpknowles85@verizon.net.

MA - Boston

We are starting a Boston area critique group for writers of middle-grade and YA fiction and non-fiction. Meetings the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6-8 pm, place to be determined. Serious writers at all stages, published and unpublished, welcome to come and learn from one another. We aim for supportive, specific feedback. If interested, please contact pendrednoyce@gmail.com.

MA - Boston/GBIG (Greater Boston Illustrator's Group)

The Greater Boston Illustrators' Group has limited availability for new members. Contact Priscilla@PriscillaAlpaugh.com for more information.

MA – Cape Cod/Falmouth

The Cape Cod Children’s Writers are a group of picture book, MG and YA writers dedicated to improving each other’s manuscripts and working toward publication. We are also associated with the Cape Cod Writer’s Center. For more information go to capecodchildrenswriters website and contact Joan Walsh at irishseaside2@aol.com.

MA - Concord

We are the Walden Writers, a children's group that meets once a month in Concord, MA. We are looking for a new member to join our group. We are a mix of authors and author/illustrators tending to lean towards picture books, non-fiction, and poetry for children and adolescents. We meet on the first Saturday of the month at the Concord Public Library.

We are particularly interested in finding a new member who is already writing and submitting. If you are a published author--or if you have a drawer full of rejection notices--we welcome you. Please contact Linda Booth Sweeney lbsweeney@verizon.net or Eugene Pool ehpool@verizon.net.

MA - Groton

Our ongoing critique group meets on or around the third Wednesday of the month in Groton. We're looking for serious authors with a focus on middle-grade and YA fiction, although occasional side trips may be made into nonfiction and picture book projects. Current members have projects in historical fiction, science fiction, and paranormal genres. Contact gfishbone@gmail.comfor details.

MA - Martha's Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard children’s writers unite! Join us twice a month to share manuscripts. Our primary goal will be to give and get feedback so we can help each other send off our best work for publication. We will also share knowledge about publishers, marketing, agents, and any other information we may have or find about children’s publishing. We are still looking for a few new members. Contact Deb at ddclimb@aol.com

MA – Montague/Greenfield Area

Calling writers of all types of children's books. We're an established group still open to new members that meets in the Montague/Greenfield area, accessible to southern NH and VT. Contact Nell Wright at nellwright79@gmail.com for more information.

MA - Needham/Newton Area

Are you in a critique group that no longer meets your needs? Have you been unsuccessful in joining an existing group? If so, you may be interested in the new critique group I’m organizing. Experienced PB, MG, and YA writers of fiction/non-fiction are welcome. It’s not necessary to have been published. A few rejection letters are enough to reflect serious effort. Good critique skills and a commitment to attending regular monthly meetings are a must. Send an email to Leslie, lesliemrd@gmail.com. Describe yourself as a writer and say something about what you’re currently working on. You may be asked to send a writing sample. Let’s build a new critique group together.

MA - Newburyport

We are a group of eager writers in children’s literature. We focus our writing in MG and YA fiction in various genres. We support each other through online critique exchange and monthly Saturday critique meetings, where we rotate responsibility to research and lead discussion on aspects of writing important to the group. All members hope to bring our works to publication. We welcome contact by writers with similar goals. Contact Paulette Turco at pdturco@msn.com

MA – Newton

Critique group is seeking a few more members. We are a group of experienced published and pre-published writers focusing on Middle Grade and YA fiction. We meet monthly on the 4th Wednesday of the month at the Newton Free Library. We are looking for writers with good critique skills and dedication to coming to group regularly. For more information please contact Josh Roberts at chapter11studios@gmail.com

MA – Orleans (Cape Cod)

We meet at the Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans, MA on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from noon to 2 pm. There is a strong focus on picture books (several members are published) but some of us write chapter books and juvenile novels that are in various stages of composition and pitching. We would like to invite one or to new members available during the winter months for a tryout. Please email: siwanisziw@yahoo.com.

MA - Peabody

Small critique group meets in Peabody but is currently on hiatus for about a month. We will be seeking new members after April 1. We are open to, and eager to read, all children's genres. Please contact Joan Williams at jmw414@comcast.net

MA - Sharon

Looking for writers and illustrators of picture books. All levels welcome. Please contact Jessie Kravette at kravers@verizon.net for more details.

MA - Sherborn

The Middle Grade Critique Group at The Writer's Loft is held on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7pm and the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 10am. We will be alternating between spontaneous critique and presubmitted critique at every other meeting. For more information contact writersloftma@gmail.comand visit http://www.thewritersloft.org

MA - Sherborn

The YA Think Tank at The Writer's Loft is designed to help YA writers at any stage of the writing process. Our goal is to help fully develop material from conception to the final draft. We'll workshop problematic scenes, troubleshoot character development, work through big picture issues, assist in brainstorming for that new concept, and review your submission package. The group meets the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10am - 12pm. For more information contact writersloftma@gmail.com and visit http://www.thewritersloft.org

MA - Sherborn

The Writers' Loft Picture Book Critique Group generally meets on various Wednesday mornings (10:30am-12:30pm) and Thursday evenings (7-9pm) periodically each month. The PBCG is a drop-in group, so there is no need to attend every meeting. Meetings are limited to four manuscripts per meeting. Membership at The Writers' Loft if not required. For more information, email The Loft at writersloftma@gmail.com or visit www.thewritersloft.org.

MA - Sherborn

Have you ever wanted to write work-for-hire but don't know how to get in the door? Are you writing a memoir or some other type of nonfiction project? Join us in the Nonfiction Think Tank at The Writer's Loft. We meet the first Friday of each month at 10am. For more information contact writersloftma@gmail.com and visit http://www.thewritersloft.org

MA - South Shore/Hingham

Are you a serious children's book writer? We meet the last Tuesday of the month. Please contact lisa@howlpress.com

MA - Springfield

Looking for Springfield area writers, picture books through YA authors. Meetings will be held twice a month to critique manuscripts and share knowledge about publishers, marketing, agents, and other information about children’s publishing. Meeting location/schedule will be determined by member consensus. Contact Cicily Corbett at cicily@cicilycorbett.com

MA – Western Mass

Do you dream in 32 page spreads? Do you rattle off daily routines in rhyme? Do you live and breathe to construct the perfect query letter? Do you dig writing picture books? Do you fiddle with metered verse? If you answered yes to any of the above, this is the group for you. Take the plunge towards the golden ticket of publication and join our new group beginning in the Westfield/Southwick area (close ride for Northern CT). This is a strictly picture book group for all writers serious about their craft. Please be willing to share and read others' work and provide/accept support and constructive criticism. All members hope to bring our works to publication. We welcome contact by writers with similar goals. Meeting location/schedule will be determined by member consensus. The potential for online critique will also be discussed.

Contact Nicole Markel at nicolemarkel@comcast.net

MA - Wakefield

Writers at all levels (PB – YA) and of all genres are welcome. RSVP and submit a writing sample 3 weeks prior to each meeting. Writing will be distributed 2 weeks prior to each meeting. Please submit writing that is approximately 10-minutes or 10-pages in length to: critique@theroomtowrite.com. The Writers Critique Group meets the 3rd Thursday of every month 7:00 - 9:00 pm in the Boys & Girls Club of Wakefield Location: Ground Floor of the Americal Civic Center, 467 Main Street, Wakefield, MA. For more information visit http://www.theroomtowrite.com/the-room/critique